We all know people who intentionally live life to the fullest. They’re authentic. They’re not afraid to speak their mind. They’re not afraid to take chances. They have the courage to be the person they truly want to be. You can do the same. Today, I’ll discuss 8 ways to be more authentic.
What is authenticity? It depends on who you ask, but according to Merriam-Webster, to be authentic means to be:
True to one’s own personality, spirit, or character.
To be authentic means to be willing to be who you’re truly meant to be. It means not caring what others think about you. It means being an original. How can you be more authentic? Let’s count the ways:
Get Real: Ways To Be More Authentic
- Don’t be afraid to live simple: People who attempt to continually live more extravagantly seem to be missing something. It often feels as though they are using their money and possessions to compensate for authenticity and originality. Living simply shows those around you that you’re happy with who you are. It shows others that you don’t need material goods in order to impress others. This is authentic.
- Say what’s on your mind: Don’t beat around the bush. Don’t be passive. Be willing to say exactly what’s on your mind. Authentic individuals are not afraid to stand up for themselves and others; to speak out. This does not mean that you do this at others’ expense. Be tactful, but be real.
- Choose to do what you love: It’s not always possible to work at our dream job. But whether it’s your job or a hobby, make a point to do something you love. I’m a writer and a musician. I do both of these activities almost every day. I have a career as a college professor. As a speaking and writing coach, I love helping others learn how to craft high-quality content and valuable messages.
- Don’t fear being different: With age, I’ve discovered that I am rarely concerned about how others perceive me. Being authentic includes having a willingness to stand apart from others. Authentic individuals are often creative people. They often find themselves in leadership roles. It’s a willingness to be different that allows you to excel in these positions.
- Love yourself first: Bad relationships often stem from jumping into them too soon. You can’t truly love others until you love yourself. If you deal with low self-esteem or self-loathing, you’ll need to work through those issues. Loving yourself begins with accepting yourself and forgiving yourself for your past faults and mistakes. When you truly love yourself, it will show. You’ll be more authentic.
- Create your own style: This takes time. I’ve been writing songs since I was a teenager. For 25 years I simply wrote songs that sounded like other people’s songs. I was imitating my idols. In my 40s, I began to truly become an authentic songwriter. My writing and blogging has followed suit. Rather than trying to be like others. Be yourself. Create your own unique image and voice.
- See the good in others: Don’t be negative and critical. Authentic people don’t put others down. They lift others up. They look for the good in others. They motivate others to follow dreams and overcome obstacles.
- Give up perfectionism: Nobody is perfect. Perfectionism will hold you back. As long as you’re trying to be perfect, you’re not being yourself. You’re trying to live up to some other standard. It’s okay to aim for quality, but accept your mistakes and imperfections. When you give up perfectionism, you’ll find that everything else we’ve discussed in today’s post will begin to flow more naturally.
Life’s Too Short To Be Phony
If you want to live life to the fullest and do what you love, you have to be willing to be authentic. You need to let go of any preconceived ideas about yourself that have been falsely planted by others. Being authentic is not a contest, it’s simply living each moment as the unique person you were meant to be.
If you enjoyed this post, I invite you to check out the Hip Diggs’ archives. Just click the link below:
